Dreamspy

Continuing the universe introduced in Those of My Blood , this volume finds two powerful political factions, the Teleod and the Metaji, waging war over two competing systems of interstellar travel, with the Metaji alleging that the Teleod are destroying the substrata of space-time that make such travel possible. A small group of outcasts attempts to divert the course of war to avert disaster. Kyllikki, a high-ranking telepath who deserts the Teleod to join the Metaji Empire, joins with the luren (vampire) Zuchmul and the Guide (astrogator) Idom, to rescue a Dreamer, Elias, after their vessels are destroyed during battle. Elias, who has been kidnapped from Earth, is bonded--illegally--to Kyllikki's cousin, Zimor, leader of the Teleod. The four then set off across the galaxy in a stolen starship to depose Zimor. While the plot, when stripped of its interstellar trappings, is quite simple, Lichtenberg ( House of Zeor ; Dushau ) builds intricate and interesting multi-species societies, particularly that of the luren, circumscribed by law and custom because of their powers. ( Dec. )